350 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



" At tlie visit of your excellency last year to this Empire, his Majesty the forraer Emperor 

 was sick, and is now dead. Subsequently, his Majesty the present Emperor ascended the 

 throne ; the many occupations in consequence thereof are not yet finished, and there is no time 

 to settle other business thoroughly. Moreover, his Majesty the new Emperor, at the succession 

 to the throne, promised to the princes and high officers of the Empire to observe the laws. It 

 is therefore evident that he cannot now bring about any alteration in the ancient laws. 



" Last autumn, at the departure of the Dutch ship, the superintendent of the Dutch trade in 

 Japan was requested to inform your government of this event, and a reply in writing has been 

 received. 



"At Nangasaki arrived recently the Russian ambassador to communicate a wish of his govern- 

 ment. He has since left the said place, because no answer would be given to any nation that 

 might communicate similar wishes. However, we admit the urgency of, and shall entirely com- 

 ply with, the proposals of your government concerning coal, wood, water, provisions, and the 

 saving of ships and their crews in distress. After being inforued which harbor your excellency 

 selects, that harbor shall be prepared, which preparation it is estimated will take about five 

 years. Meanwhile a commencement can be made with the coal at Nangasaki by the next 

 Japanese first month, (Siogoots,) (16th of February, 1855.) 



"Having no precedent with respect to coal, we request your excellency to furnish us with an 

 estimate, and upon due consideration this will be complied with, if not in opposition to our laws. 

 What do you understand by provisions, and how much coal? 



"Finally, anything ships may be in want of that can be furnished from the production of 

 this Empire shall be supplied. The prices of merchandise and articles of barter to be fixed by 

 Kurakawa Kahei and Moryania Tenoske. After settling the points before mentioned, the treaty 

 can be concluded and signed at the next interview. 



" Seals attached by order of the high gentlemen. 



"MOETAMA YENOSKE." 



The Commodore having returned the document, requesting it should be signed by the high 

 commissioner, and delivered to him next day, entered at once upon the subject which was upper- 

 most in his mind, the negotiation of a treaty. He remarked that it would be better for the two 

 nations that a treaty similar to the one between the United States and China should be made. 

 He had been sent, he continued, by his government to make a treaty, and if he did not succeed, 

 the United States would probably send more ships to make one ; but he hoped that everything 

 would be soon settled in an amicable manner, and that he would be enabled to send two of his 

 ships, as he desired, to prevent others from coming. A copy of the Chinese treaty, written in 

 English, Chinese, and Dutch, accompanied by two notes from the Commodore, and a letter in 

 answer to one sent by the high commissioner from Uraga, were now handed to the Japanese, 

 when they asked for time to have the documents translated into their own language. 



Notes handed to First Commissioner on Wednesday, March 8, 1854. 



The American ambassador learns with pleasure that the Japanese government is disposed to 

 enter into some friendly arrangement with the United States. As such is happily the case, it 

 would be much more advantageous to both nations, and especially to Japan, if a treaty is 

 agreed upon, even if it be of short duration ; for reason that the citizens and subjects of both 



